It served a purpose!
HOLLIS.
Think! This very day?
Ere Strafford rises to defend himself?
CHARLES.
I will defend him, Sir! sanction the past —
This day — it ever was my purpose! Rage
At me, not Strafford! Oh I shall be paid
By Strafford’s look!
CARLISLE.
(To HOLLIS.) Nobly! Oh will he not
Do nobly?
HOLLIS.
Sire, you will do honestly;
And, for that look, I too would be a king!
CHARLES (after a pause).
Only, to do this now — just when they seek
To make me out a tyrant — one that’s deaf
To subjects’ prayers, — shall I oppose them now?
It seems their will the Trial should proceed . . .
‘Tis palpably their will!
HOLLIS.
You’ll lose your throne:
But it were no bright moment save for that!
Strafford, your prime support, the sole roof-tree
That props this quaking House of Privilege,
(Floods come, winds beat, and see — the treacherous sand!)
Doubtless if the mere putting forth an arm
Could save him, you’d save Strafford!
CHARLES.
And they mean
Calmly to consummate this wrong! No hope?
This ineffaceable wrong! No pity then?
HOLLIS.
No plague in store for perfidy? — Farewell!
You summoned me . . . (To CARLISLE.) You, Lady, bade me come
To save the Earl! I came, thank God for it,
To learn how far such perfidy can go!
. . . You dare to talk with me of saving him
Who have just ruined Strafford!
CHARLES.
I?
HOLLIS.
See, now!
Eighteen days long he throws, one after one,
Our charges back: a blind moth-eaten law!
— He’ll break from us at last! And whom to thank?
The Mouse that gnawed the Lion’s net for him
Got a good friend, — but he, the other Mouse,
That looked on while the Lion freed himself — —
Fared he so well, does any fable say?
CHARLES.
What can you mean?
HOLLIS.
Pym never could have proved
Strafford’s design of bringing up the troops
To force this kingdom to obedience: Vane —
Your servant, Vane . . .
QUEEN.
Well, Sir?
HOLLIS.
. . Has proved it.
CHARLES.
Vane?
HOLLIS.
This day! Did Vane deliver up or no
Those notes which, furnished by his son to Pym,
Have sealed . . .
CHARLES.
Speak Vane! As I shall live, I know
Nothing that Vane has done! What treason next?
I wash my hands of it! Vane, speak the truth!
— Ask Vane himself!
HOLLIS.
I will not speak to Vane
Who speak to Pym and Hampden every day!
QUEEN.
Speak to Vane’s master then! Why should he wish
For Strafford’s death?
HOLLIS.
Why? Strafford cannot turn
As you sit there — bid you come forth and say
If every hateful act were not set down
In his commission? — Whether you contrived
Or no that all the violence should seem
His work, the gentle ways — your own, as if
He counteracted your kind impulses
While . . . but you know what he could say! And then
Would he produce, mark you, a certain charge
To set your own express commands aside,
If need were, and be blameless! He’d say, then . . . .
CHARLES.
Hold!
HOLLIS.
. . . . Say who bade him break the Parliament, —
Find out some pretext to set up sword-law . . .
QUEEN.
Retire, Sir!
CHARLES.
Vane — once more — what Vane dares do
I know not . . . he is rash . . . a fool . . . I know
Nothing of Vane!
HOLLIS.
Well — I believe you; Sire
Believe me, in return, that . . .
(Turning to CARLISLE.) Gentle Lady,
The few words I would say the stones might hear
Sooner than these . . . I’ll say them all to you,
You, with the heart! The question, trust me, takes
Another shape, to-day: ‘tis not if Charles
Or England shall succumb, — but which shall pay
The forfeit, Strafford or his Master: Sire,
You loved me once . . . think on my warning now! (Exit.)
CHARLES.
On you and on your warning both! — Carlisle!
That paper!
QUEEN.
But consider!
CHARLES.
Give it me!
There — signed — will that content you? — Do not speak!
You have betrayed me, Vane! — See — any day
(According to the tenour of that paper)
He bids your brother bring the Army up,
Strafford shall head it and take full revenge!
Seek Strafford! Let him have it, look, before
He rises to defend himself!
QUEEN.
In truth?
Clever of Hollis, now, to work a change
Like this! You were reluctant . . .
CHARLES.
Say, Carlisle
Your brother Percy brings the Army up —
Falls on the Parliament — — (I’ll think of you
My Hollis!) — say we plotted long . . . ‘tis mine,
The scheme is mine, remember! Say I cursed
Vane’s folly in your hearing! If that man
Does rise to do us shame, the fault shall lie
With you, Carlisle!
CARLISLE.
Nay, fear not me! but still
That’s a bright moment, Sire, you throw away . . .
Oh, draw the veil and save him!
QUEEN.
Go, Carlisle!
CARLISLE (aside, and going).
I shall see Strafford — speak to him: my heart
Must never beat so, then!
And if I tell
The truth? What’s gained by falsehood? There they stand
Whose trade it is — whose life it is! How vain
To gild such rottenness! Strafford shall know,
Thoroughly know them!
THE QUEEN (as she leaves the KING, &c.)
Trust to me! (To CARLISLE.) Carlisle,
You seem inclined, alone of all the Court,
To serve poor Strafford: this bold plan of yours
Merits much praise, and yet . . .
CARLISLE.
Time presses, Madam.
QUEEN.
Yet . . . may it not be something premature?
Strafford defends himself to-day — reserves
Some wondrous effort . . one may well suppose —
He’ll say some overwhelming fact, Carlisle!
CARLISLE.
Aye, Hollis hints as much.
CHARLES.
Why linger then?
Haste with the scheme — my scheme — I shall be there
To watch his look! Tell him I watch his look!
QUEEN.
Stay, we’ll precede you!
CARLISLE.
At your pleasure.
CHARLES.
Say . . .
Say . . Vane is hardly ever at Whitehall!
I shall be there, remember!
>
CARLISLE.
Doubt me not!
CHARLES.
On our return, Carlisle, we wait you here!
CARLISLE.
I’ll bring his answer; Sire, I follow you. (Exeunt K. &c.)
Ah . . . but he would be very sad to find
The King so faithless, and I take away
All that he cares to live for: let it go — —
‘Tis the King’s scheme!
My Strafford, I can save . . .
Nay, I have saved you — yet am scarce content,
Because my poor name will not cross your mind . . .
Strafford, how much I am unworthy you! (Exit.)
Scene II. A PASSAGE ADJOINING WESTMINSTER HALL.
Many groups of SPECTATORS of the Trial (which is visible from the back of the Stage) — OFFICERS of the Court, &c.
FIRST SPECTATOR.
More crowd than ever! . . . Not know Hampden, man?
That’s he — by Pym — Pym that is speaking now!
No, truly — if you look so high you’ll see
Little enough of either!
SECOND SPECTATOR.
Hush . . Pym’s arm
Points like a prophet’s rod!
THIRD SPECTATOR.
Ay — ay — we’ve heard
Some pretty speaking . . yet the Earl escapes!
FOURTH SPECTATOR.
I fear it: just a foolish word or two
About his children . . . and they see, forsooth,
Not England’s Foe in Strafford — but the Man
Who, sick, half-blind . . .
SECOND SPECTATOR.
What’s that Pym’s saying now
That makes the curtains flutter . . look! A hand
Clutches them . . Ah! The King’s hand!
FIFTH SPECTATOR.
I had thought
Pym was not near so tall! What said he, friend?
SECOND SPECTATOR.
“Nor is this way a novel way of blood” . . .
And the Earl turns as if to . . . look! look!
MANY SPECTATORS.
Heaven —
What ails him . . no — he rallies . . see — goes on
And Strafford smiles. Strange!
(Enter a PURITAN.)
THE PURITAN.
Haselrig.
MANY SPECTATORS.
Friend? Friend?
THE PURITAN.
Lost — utterly lost . . just when we looked for Pym
To make a stand against the ill effects
Of the Earl’s speech! Is Haselrig without?
Pym’s message is to him! (Exit.)
THIRD SPECTATOR.
Now, said I true?
Will the Earl leave them yet at fault or no?
FIRST SPECTATOR.
Never believe it, man! These notes of Vane’s
Ruin the Earl!
FIFTH SPECTATOR.
A brave end . . not a whit
Less firm, less . . . Pym all over! Then the Trial
Is closed . . . no . . Strafford means to speak again!
AN OFFICER.
Stand back, there!
FIFTH SPECTATOR.
Why the Earl is coming hither!
Before the court breaks up! His brother, look, —
You’d say he deprecated some fierce act
In Strafford’s mind just now!
AN OFFICER.
Stand back, I say!
SECOND SPECTATOR.
Who’s the veiled woman that he talks with?
MANY SPECTATORS.
Hush —
The Earl! the Earl!
(Enter STRAFFORD, SLINGSBY and other Secretaries, HOLLIS,
CARLISLE, MAXWELL, BALFOUR, &c. STRAFFORD converses with CARLISLE.)
HOLLIS.
So near the end! Be patient —
Return!
STRAFFORD.
(To his Secretaries.) Here — anywhere — or — ’tis freshest here . .
(To spend one’s April here — the blossom-month!)
Set it down here!
(They arrange a table, papers &c.)
What, Pym to quail, to sink
Because I glance at him, yet . . .
Well, to end —
What’s to be answered, Slingsby? Let us end!
(To CARLISLE.) Girl, I refuse his offer; whatsoe’er
It be! Too late! Tell me no word of him!
(To HOLLIS.) ‘Tis something, Hollis, I assure you that —
To stand, sick as you are, some eighteen days
Fighting for life and fame against a pack
Of very curs, that lie thro’ thick and thin,
Eat flesh and bread by wholesale, and can’t say
“Strafford” if it would take my life!
CARLISLE.
Be kind
This once! Glance at the paper . . if you will
But glance at it . . .
STRAFFORD.
Already at my heels!
Pym’s faulting bloodhounds scent the track again!
Peace, girl! Now, Slingsby!
(Messengers from Lane and other of STRAFFORD’S Counsel within the
Hall are coming and going during the Scene.)
STRAFFORD (setting himself to write and dictate).
I shall beat you, Hollis!
Do you know that? In spite of all your tricks —
In spite of Pym! Your Pym that shrank from me!
Eliot would have contrived it otherwise!
(To a Messenger.) In truth? This slip, tell Lane, contains as much
As I can call to mind about the matter.
(To HOLLIS.) Eliot would have disdained . . .
(Calling after the Messenger.) And Radcliffe, say —
The only person who could answer Pym —
Is safe in prison, just for that!
(Continuing to HOLLIS). Well — well —
It had not been recorded in that case,
I baffled you!
(To CARLISLE.) Nay, girl, why look so grieved?
All’s gained without the King! You saw Pym quail?
. . . What shall I do when they acquit me, think you,
But tranquilly resume my task as though
Nothing had intervened since I proposed
To call that traitor to account! Such tricks,
Trust me, shall not be played a second time —
Even against old Laud, with his grey hair . . .
Your good work, Hollis! — And to make amends
You, Lucy, shall be there when I impeach
Pym and his fellows!
HOLLIS.
Wherefore not protest
Against our whole proceeding long ago?
Why feel indignant now? Why stand this while
Enduring patiently . . .
STRAFFORD.
(To CARLISLE.) Girl, I’ll tell you —
You — and not Pym . . you, the slight graceful girl
Tall for a flowering lily — and not Charles . . .
Why I stood patient! I was fool enough
To see the will of England in Pym’s will —
To dream that I had wronged her — and to wait
Her judgment, — when, behold, in place of it . . .
(To a Messenger who whispers.) Tell Lane to answer no such
question! Law . . .
I grapple with their Law! I’m here to try
My actions by their standard, not my own!
Their Law allowed that levy . . . what’s the rest
To Pym, or Lane, or any but myself?
CARLISLE.
Then cast not thus your only chance away —
The King’s so weak . . secure this chance! ‘Twas Vane
— Vane, recollect, who furnished Pym the notes . . .
STRAFFORD.
Fit . . very fit . . those precious notes of Vane,
To close the Trial worthily! I feared
Some spice of nobleness might linger yet
To spoil
the character of all the past!
It pleased me . . and (rising passionately) I will go back and say
As much — to them — to England! Follow me!
I have a word to say! There! my defence
Is done!
(To CARLISLE.) Stay . . why be proud? Why care to own
My gladness — my surprise? . . no — not surprise!
Oh, why insist upon the little pride
Of doing all myself and sparing him
The pain? Girl, say the triumph is my King’s!
When Pym grew pale, and trembled, and sank down —
His image was before me . . . could I fail?
Girl, care not for the past — so indistinct —
Obscure — there’s nothing to forgive in it
‘Tis so forgotten! From this day begins
A new life, founded on a new belief
In Charles . . .
HOLLIS.
Pym comes . . tell Pym it is unfair!
Appeal to Pym! Hampden — and Vane! see, Strafford!
Say how unfair . . .
STRAFFORD.
To Pym? I would say nothing!
I would not look upon Pym’s face again!
CARLISLE.
Stay . . let me have to think I pressed your hand!
(Exeunt STRAFFORD &c.)
(Enter HAMPDEN and VANE.)
VANE.
O Hampden, save that great misguided man!
Plead Strafford’s cause with Pym — I have remarked
He moved no muscle when we all spoke loud
Against him . . . you had but to breathe — he turned
Those kind, large eyes upon you — kind to all
But Strafford . . whom I murder!
(Enter PYM (conversing with the Solicitor-General, St. JOHN),
the Managers of the Trial, FIENNES, RUDYARD, &c.)
RUDYARD.
Horrible!
Till now all hearts were with you . . . I withdraw
For one! Too horrible! Oh we mistake
Your purpose, Pym . . you cannot snatch away
The last spar from the drowning man!
FIENNES.
He talks
With St. John of it — see how quietly!
(To other PRESBYTERIANS.) You’ll join us? Mind, we own he merits
death —
But this new course is monstrous! Vane, take heart!
This Bill of his Attainder shall not have
One true man’s hand to it!
VANE.
But hear me, Pym!
Confront your Bill — your own Bill . . what is it?
You cannot catch the Earl on any charge . .
No man will say the Law has hold of him
On any charge . . and therefore you resolve
To take the general sense on his desert, —
As though no Law existed, and we met
To found one! — You refer to every man
To speak his thought upon this hideous mass
Of half-borne out assertions — dubious hints
Hereafter to be cleared — distortions — aye,
And wild inventions. Every man is saved
The task of fixing any single charge
Robert Browning - Delphi Poets Series Page 255